Boston College goalie Thatcher Demko used part of his new goalie mask to honor victims of the Boston Marathon bombing.

Thatcher Demko hasn't even turned 18 yet, but he'll likely be the starting goaltender for NCAA powerhouse Boston College this year and is one of the leading goalie prospects heading into the 2014 NHL Draft.

Though he hails from San Diego, Calif., Demko wanted to honor the people of his new home with his goalie mask. With the Boston Marathon bombing still fresh in the minds of many Bostonians, part of Demko's mask serves as a tribute to those affected by the tragic events of April 15, 2013.

(Photo: Jesse's Custom Design)

It's a rather striking look, with the runners' silhouettes filled by the American flag. That rippling arm on the chin belongs to a very muscular bald eagle, which you'll see below. Presumably that's another take on "Boston Strong," the tagline Bostonians adopted in the wake of the bombing.

The other side of the mask, which was put together by Boston-based Jesse's Custom Design, includes Boston College's coat of arms and here you can see the rest of that intimidating bald eagle.

Demko, who graduated from high school a year early to join BC this fall, was listed as an A-rated prospect by NHL Central Scouting on its early watch list. An A-rating means Central Scouting believes Demko could be a top-two round selection for the upcoming draft.

As a side note, the U.S. college hockey season begins Saturday. CBS Sports Network's 20-game college hockey broadcast schedule opens up Oct. 18 with a doubleheader featuring No. 7 North Dakota at No. 2 Miami (Ohio) and Minnesota Duluth at Colorado College.

Chris Peters has been a hockey writer for CBS Sports since 2012. Prior to that, he wrote for numerous outlets and edited the United States of Hockey blog, covering the sport at all levels. Peters also...
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